5A State Playoff Preview
The New Mexico Athletic Association met and released the bracket for the 2016 state playoffs in New Mexico. 12-teams in each classification from 6A (largest enrollment) to 3A (enrollment) found their fate on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m.
Today, we take a look at each bracket, the match-ups and the must see prospects in each classification.
First Round Schedule
5. Los Lunas vs 12. Kirtland Central, Friday, 7pm
6. Goddard vs 11. Miyamura, Friday, 7pm
7. Aztec vs 10. Farmington, Friday, 7pm
8. Alamogordo vs 9. Del Norte, Friday, 7pm
5A Overview
The bracket with all the uncertainty, mystery, anger and questions came from the final two weeks of the season. Who would be 1? How do the other jenga pieces fit the building of the 5A bracket? Well, District 4-5A sorted it self out and the rest of the pieces fell in order right were they should.
The top seed in the tournament is the Artesia Bulldogs with an (8-2) record and one of the toughest roads to the state tournament. They have a stud quarterback in junior Taylor Null leading the charge. Next, we have the 2-seed St. Pius X Sartans who was a near 1-seed that enters with a 9-1 record and a quarterback of their own looking to prove naysayers wrong.
The mix bag of quality teams, with the chance to take home the blue trophy has the 3-seed Roswell Coyotes (8-2), the team that has everyone talking coach of the year. 4-seed is another team not picked but earned respect in the Belen Eagles (8-2).
Rounding out true contenders are the 5-seed Los Lunas Tigers (7-3), who seem to have weathered any sign of a storm along with the 6-seed Goddard Rockets (6-4) who had the win of the season to this point when they upset Artesia.
Five Players to Watch
Drew Ortiz (St. Pius X): Unfortunately, the Sartans don't release stats. However, we have seen the young man have multiple games with 5-touchdowns. He can beat you in the air or making impressive moves with his feet on the ground. Ortiz, is a must see prospect and could have the Sartans looking to shake any doubts on this program.
Taylor Null (Artesia): A few weeks before the season ended in October, Null had 22-touchdowns and 678-passing yards.Null, without question is 2 or 1B behind Ortiz this season in 5A Quarterback rankings and number 30 (state titles) could very much be on its way to Bulldog City.
Kyle Hooper (Alamogordo): Yes, I know I try to make sure to list different positions in our Five to Watch but you can't ignore the classification has three outstanding quarterbacks. Hooper, being courted by next level programs, has 2125 passing yards with 24-touchdowns. He might have the best distance on his ball of the top three and could have a second round showdown with Taylor Null that will surely be on the radar for anyone around the SE region.
Gabriel Najar (Roswell): The name that is in our untitled newcomer of the group is Najar who has flown up the running back charts. The Coyotes are ranked third in the bracket and with his 777-yards, 9-touchdowns he is playing a big part of the season that they are having this season.
Trevor Brohard (Los Lunas): The prospect we have heard about who has a D-1 offer is Trevor Brohard. The LB/TE leads the classification in tackles at 116, 88 solo and 1 sack on the season. The classification will have plenty on our list of 100-players to watch in the post season and Brohard could be the top defensive player.
Dark Horse
Aztec: The Tigers might have a tough time overcoming the high powered offense in the quarterfinals with a potential match up with St. Pius X. However, the Tigers offense wouldn't surprise me if they made it a close 60-59 battle to the end. Defense will be the question in that game but we will wait to break it down. Right now we could still bet on the Tigers for being a dark horse. The other team I like, nearly went with, was the Del Norte Knights who like the Tigers have played well to end the regular season.
Upset Alert
Miyamura: Okay, before you call me everything in the book let me say my reason. Yes, I am also aware that District 1-5A does not play well against SE NM district. The Patriots holding teams to 22.3 points per game is not terrible. They have a quarterback in Matt Chavez who has played well in big games with a 243-passing yard night against 2-seed St. Pius X in late September. Lastly, for fun sake Goddard is 0-1 against the northwest area this season.
5-12 Seed That Could Make Semi-Finals
Los Lunas: Disclaimer again before you hit reply, I'll give my feature some justice and give my unbiased, don't have a favorite and not from Los Lunas (but feel home at Valencia *insert wink face emoji) opinion. Los Lunas didn't have studs, was not healthy in the first meeting with Belen. The game will be a classic in the second round but I could see the Los Lunas Tigers reaching the semi-finals.
First Round Predictions
Alamogordo over Del Norte
Los Lunas over Kirtland Central
Goddard over Miyamura
Aztec over Farmington
The New Mexico Athletic Association met and released the bracket for the 2016 state playoffs in New Mexico. 12-teams in each classification from 6A (largest enrollment) to 3A (enrollment) found their fate on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m.
Today, we take a look at each bracket, the match-ups and the must see prospects in each classification.
First Round Schedule
5. Los Lunas vs 12. Kirtland Central, Friday, 7pm
6. Goddard vs 11. Miyamura, Friday, 7pm
7. Aztec vs 10. Farmington, Friday, 7pm
8. Alamogordo vs 9. Del Norte, Friday, 7pm
5A Overview
The bracket with all the uncertainty, mystery, anger and questions came from the final two weeks of the season. Who would be 1? How do the other jenga pieces fit the building of the 5A bracket? Well, District 4-5A sorted it self out and the rest of the pieces fell in order right were they should.
The top seed in the tournament is the Artesia Bulldogs with an (8-2) record and one of the toughest roads to the state tournament. They have a stud quarterback in junior Taylor Null leading the charge. Next, we have the 2-seed St. Pius X Sartans who was a near 1-seed that enters with a 9-1 record and a quarterback of their own looking to prove naysayers wrong.
The mix bag of quality teams, with the chance to take home the blue trophy has the 3-seed Roswell Coyotes (8-2), the team that has everyone talking coach of the year. 4-seed is another team not picked but earned respect in the Belen Eagles (8-2).
Rounding out true contenders are the 5-seed Los Lunas Tigers (7-3), who seem to have weathered any sign of a storm along with the 6-seed Goddard Rockets (6-4) who had the win of the season to this point when they upset Artesia.
Five Players to Watch
Drew Ortiz (St. Pius X): Unfortunately, the Sartans don't release stats. However, we have seen the young man have multiple games with 5-touchdowns. He can beat you in the air or making impressive moves with his feet on the ground. Ortiz, is a must see prospect and could have the Sartans looking to shake any doubts on this program.
Taylor Null (Artesia): A few weeks before the season ended in October, Null had 22-touchdowns and 678-passing yards.Null, without question is 2 or 1B behind Ortiz this season in 5A Quarterback rankings and number 30 (state titles) could very much be on its way to Bulldog City.
Kyle Hooper (Alamogordo): Yes, I know I try to make sure to list different positions in our Five to Watch but you can't ignore the classification has three outstanding quarterbacks. Hooper, being courted by next level programs, has 2125 passing yards with 24-touchdowns. He might have the best distance on his ball of the top three and could have a second round showdown with Taylor Null that will surely be on the radar for anyone around the SE region.
Gabriel Najar (Roswell): The name that is in our untitled newcomer of the group is Najar who has flown up the running back charts. The Coyotes are ranked third in the bracket and with his 777-yards, 9-touchdowns he is playing a big part of the season that they are having this season.
Trevor Brohard (Los Lunas): The prospect we have heard about who has a D-1 offer is Trevor Brohard. The LB/TE leads the classification in tackles at 116, 88 solo and 1 sack on the season. The classification will have plenty on our list of 100-players to watch in the post season and Brohard could be the top defensive player.
Dark Horse
Aztec: The Tigers might have a tough time overcoming the high powered offense in the quarterfinals with a potential match up with St. Pius X. However, the Tigers offense wouldn't surprise me if they made it a close 60-59 battle to the end. Defense will be the question in that game but we will wait to break it down. Right now we could still bet on the Tigers for being a dark horse. The other team I like, nearly went with, was the Del Norte Knights who like the Tigers have played well to end the regular season.
Upset Alert
Miyamura: Okay, before you call me everything in the book let me say my reason. Yes, I am also aware that District 1-5A does not play well against SE NM district. The Patriots holding teams to 22.3 points per game is not terrible. They have a quarterback in Matt Chavez who has played well in big games with a 243-passing yard night against 2-seed St. Pius X in late September. Lastly, for fun sake Goddard is 0-1 against the northwest area this season.
5-12 Seed That Could Make Semi-Finals
Los Lunas: Disclaimer again before you hit reply, I'll give my feature some justice and give my unbiased, don't have a favorite and not from Los Lunas (but feel home at Valencia *insert wink face emoji) opinion. Los Lunas didn't have studs, was not healthy in the first meeting with Belen. The game will be a classic in the second round but I could see the Los Lunas Tigers reaching the semi-finals.
First Round Predictions
Alamogordo over Del Norte
Los Lunas over Kirtland Central
Goddard over Miyamura
Aztec over Farmington
